Several factors define the climate and temperature of a place, among them altitude, latitude and humidity. In Brazil, the coldest places are in the South and Southeast, and the Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul highlands are especially cold.
Since temperatures there can easily drop below zero degrees Celsius in winter, architecture cannot ignore thermal insulation strategies for the building envelope and the windows.
Building orientation
In southern Brazil, because of the latitude, south-facing façades get no sun even in summer. This calls for great care from the architect when positioning the building, so that rooms such as bedrooms are not left in permanently shaded areas.
Studying the prevailing winds is also important when defining the openings. Cross-ventilation is always welcome, but in the cold months excessive ventilation is not, especially on very cold days.
Walls and roofs
Thermal treatment of walls and roofs is essential. In advanced construction systems such as light steel frame, it is done with insulating materials in the walls and above the ceilings.
Windows and doors
In very cold climates there is always a trade-off between insulation and the size of windows and doors. In general, the larger the glazed area, the lower the thermal insulation. This, however, applies to poor-quality frames, without proper seals, thicknesses and insulating materials, or without double glazing.
In the highlands of southern Brazil, thermally efficient windows are essential in a high-end building, especially when we want to keep indoor and outdoor spaces connected.
Floors
Any type of floor can be used in mountain buildings. Whenever possible, it is best to combine the subfloor with a convection heating system, either electric or gas.
When the budget does not allow for underfloor heating, we recommend wood, carpet or vinyl flooring with rugs, to make walking around more comfortable on the coldest days.
Heating systems
There are many options, from small electric heaters to the underfloor systems mentioned above. The most popular are fireplaces and larger electric or oil heaters, but there are also wood stoves and even hot-water circulation systems throughout the building.
Split air-conditioners have become very popular as heaters, but residents tend to dislike them when it comes to heating the house.
Thermal comfort is essential for anyone who lives in or uses a mountain building.
See our mountain houses and cabins and tiny houses.
